Bottle crate



Oct. 17, 1950 s. J. BLAcKwELL 2,526,113

BOTTLE CRATE Filed Sept. 50, 1947 V'5 shegts-sheet 2 so m gj TM rma "j0t- 17 1950v T l s. J. BLAcKwELl.

BOTTLE CRATE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 l .Finld Sept. 50. 1947 N I E n m W w W gaf Wa Oct. 17, 1950 s. J. BLAcKwELL' k 2,526,113

BOTTLE CRATE rile@ spt. so, 1947 5 sheets-sheet 4 Oct. 17, 1950 s. BLAGKWELL 2,526,113

- BOTTLE CRATE Filed sept. 5o. 19.47v '-ESneets-sheet 5 Patented Oct. 17, 1950` BOTTLE CRATE Sanford J. Blackwell, St. Louis, Mo. Application September 30, 1947, Serial No. 777,011

(Cl. E20-21) 3 Claims.

This invention relates to bottle crates or carriers.

An object of this invention is to provide a bottle crate which includes a metal frame formed out of extruded or shaped flat channel metal and extruded double channelled corners, the frame Ybeing cut out on the inner walls thereof for receiving the ends of the partitions or dividers so Y that the partitions will be locked in the frame.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bottle crate which can be easily and quickly assembled.

A further object of this invention is to provide a bottle crate wherein the dividers or partitions may be formed out of rubber, plastic or other composition material which may be reinforced by embedded rods or wires.

' A further object ofthis invention is to provide a bottle crate which includes in one form thereof that the crate can out A furtherobject of this invention is lto provide a bottle crate having a metal frame formed of confronting pairs of channel members inthe sides and vends thereof, the inner channel members being cut out togreceive the ends of the divider cage, and formed with openings adjacent the bottom thereof to receive the ends of the bottom slats which are locked by means of cross rods or wires and the ends of the slats are engaged in openings formed in the ends of the frame.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved bottle Crate which includes a pair of handles or baile and means for removably mounting the bails on the frame.

A further object of this invention is to provide a bottle crate which includes identifying means pressed or embossed in the outer sides of the frame so that the crate can be easily and quickly identified. v

A further object of this invention is to provide a crate which can be easily stacked and will withstand hard usage.

To the foregoing objects, and others which may hereinafter more fully appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be more specifically' referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but it is to be understood that changes, variations, and modifications may be resorted to ,which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

locking disks for yieldably lock-v` In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bottle crate or carrier constructed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a sectionaly view taken on the line 2 2l of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a sectional view' taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional'view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1. I

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 2. 1

Figure 6 is a fragmentary bottom plan. ofthe device.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional View of one of the corners of this device on an enlargedv scale.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary'plan view, partly in Figure 14 is a plan view of one of the rubber retaining members.

Figure 15 discloses a modification of the` handle structure. v

Referring to the drawings, the numerals 2D and 2 ll designate generallyy a pair of side members and the numerals 22 and 23 designate generally a pair of end members forming a frame or carrier body. The sidefmembers 2B and- 2I are of like construction and each includes inner and outer elongated ilat plates 2i! and 2 5. The inner plate 24 is formed on its longitudinal edges with an upper outwardly extending flange 26 terminating in a downwardly extending flange 21. The inner plate 24 also includes a lower outwardlyextending flange 28 which terminatesv in an upwardly extending flange 29. The` outer plate 2'5 includes an upper inwardly extending flange 30 term-inating'in a downwardly extending flange 3i which is disposed in face abutting relation tothe upper flange 271 of the inner plate so as to thereby hold the inner and outer plates in spaced apart relation.

The outer plate 25 also includes a lower inwardly extending ange 32 having extending upwardly from the inner end thereof a vertical flange 29 and coacts with the upper flanges 27 and 3| in holding the inner and outer plates in spaced parallel relation. The outer plate 25 is formed between the ends thereof with an inwardly offset wall 34 on which a label or identifying member 35 is adapted to be secured. The plate or outer wall 25 is also formed with a pair of depressed outer portions 35 and an outwardly oiset member 31 extends outwardly from the depressed wall or portion 3S. The offset portion 31 is constructed in the configuration of a bottle which is of a design similar to the character or kind of bottles which are to be used with this crate or carrier so that the distributor or owner of the carrier will know from a glance at the offset design 31 the kind of bottles which are to be placed in the crate or carrier.

The end members 22 and 23 are also of like construction and each includes an inner plate 38 and an outer plate 39. The inner plate 3B is formed on its upper lengthwise edge with an outwardly extending ange di! and a depending flange 4i extends from the outer edge of the ange fl. The plate 38 also includes a lower outwardly extending iiange 42 and an upwardly extending flange 43 extends from the outer edge of the flange 42. The outer plate or wall 39 includes an upper inwardly projecting flange i4 terminating in a depending ange l5 abutting against the upper flange 4l. The outer wall or plate 38 also includes a lower inwardly projecting flange i5 and an upwardly extending flange 41 abutting against the flange 133.

A hand hole or opening 48 is formed in the two plates 38 and 3Q between the ends thereof and between the upper and lower edges. The hand hole 48 is dened by flanges i9 and 5B extending outwardly from the horizontal edges of the hole or opening 48 and the flange i9 has extending upwardly therefrom an upper ange 5l whereas the lower horizontal flange 5o has depending therefrom a flange 52. The opening 38 is also defined by vertical confronting L-shaped flanges 53 and 54 so that when the two plates 38 and 39 are secured together as will be hereinafter described the space between the plates 38 and 39 will be closed by the flanges formed on these plates about the opening or hole 48.

The respective side and end members are adapted to be secured together by means of connecting corner members generally designated as 55. Th-e corner members 55 include a U-shaped coupling member 56 between the parallel sides of which the adjacent ends of the side members are adapted to engage. The corner members 55 also include an L-shaped member 5'! formed integral with the U-shaped member 55 and extending at right angles with respect to the U-shaped member 5B soI as to thereby provide right-angularly disposed channel 53 within which the adjacent end of an end member is adapted to engage.

The end of a side member is adapted to be secured in the U-shaped channel member 55 by means of rivets or fastening members 5S which extend transversely across the parallel sides of the U-shaped member 56. The end members 22 and 23 are secured in the channel 58 by means of elongated bars or rods 5B which extend through the outer side of the L-shaped member 51 and project between the plates 24 and 25 forming the side members. The ends of the rod or bar 5U areupset as indicated at 6l so that the end members will be firmly secured within the channels 58, but when it is desired to repair either a side or end member, the rivets and securing bar 60 may be removed and new side or end members inserted in the respective channels. These channel members 55 are adapted to be formed from extruded material.

A bottom wall generally designated as 62 is disposed within the frame formed of the opposite sides and opposite end members and the bottom wall is preferably constructed of lengthwise extending slats or narrow strips 63 which are formed with reduced opposite ends 64 extended through holes form-ed in the inner walls 38 of the end members.

Preferably transversely extending connecting bars 66 extend horizontally and transversely through the slats or strips 53 and are adapted to be extended through openings 67 formed in the lower portions of the side `walls or plates 24. The bottom forming slats 63 are preferably disposed in spaced apart relation as clearly shown in Figure 3, so as to provide relatively open bottcm for the crate.

A divider or partition forming cage generally designated as 58 is disposed within the frame or body formed by the opposite sides and ends. The divider or cage construction includes a plurality of lengthwise extending parallel flat strips 65 `with which transversely extending parallel strips are interjoined. rEhe transverse strips extend from the upper edge of the frame to the bottom wall 62 whereas the longitudinal divider strips G9 terminate at the lower edge, as shown in Figure 2, above the bottom wall 62. The transverse strips 'lo are formed with outwardly opening slots 'il within `which the reduced connecting portion 'i2 of a longitudinal strip is adapted to engage. The inner side walls 2d of the side members are formed with vertically elongated openings 73 within which opposite end tongues 7f3 carried by the transverse strips are adapted to snugly engage. The longitudinal strips 69 project at their opposite ends through openings 'l5 formed in the inner walls 3B of the end members, the longitudinal strips 59 having tongues 76 at the opposite ends for engagement in the openings As shown in Figure 2, the middle longitudinal strip 59a is cut olf at the opposite ends thereof as in icated at 'il on an upward and outward inclination so that the outer ends of the middle divider strip @En will not interfere with the projection of a hand through the hand holes 48.

The partition forming member or cage 68 is formed with arcuate vertically extending cutouts i5 and 35i in the longitudinal and transverse partition members respectively so that these partition members may be disposed in a manner to provide relatively small pockets with the :bodies of the bottles engaging in the vertical arcuate cut-outs or channels 'i9 and 8G.

A pair of carrying handles or balls 8l are adapted to be removably connected with the crate and each handle or bail includes a U- shaped upwardly and inwardly inclined member 22 having the bight 3 thereof uppermost and comprising the grip. The parallel sides 84 of the U-shaped members 82 extend to the opposite end lmembers 22 and 23 and vertical extensions S5 extend downwardly from the outer ends of the parallel legs 8d terminating in inwardly and upwardly inclined bars 85. The inner ends of the bars 85 have formed integral therewith hooks Si lwhich are adapted to engage over the end reduced body `portions of the bottle.

transverse connecting bars 66 as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 7.

The outer walls 39 of the opposite end members are formed with elongated openings or slots 88 so that, if desired, the carrying handles` or balls 8l may be formed with hooks in the Vertical portions 85 thereof to engage in the slots 88.

Referring now to Figures 9 and 10, there is disclosed modified form of cage or partition conv Referring now to `Figure 11, there is disclosed another form of divider or cage construction wherein the longitudinalstrips 93 are formed integral with the transverse strips 99 and these longitudinal'and transverse strips are formedV out of rubber or other inherently yieldable mav terial. The longitudinal strips 93 are reinforced by embedded reinforcing rods 95 and the transverse strips 94 are reinforced by embedded reinforcing rods or bars 96.

Referring now to Figures 12, 13 and 14, there is disclosed a yieldable bottle locking or holding disk 91 which is adapted to be combined with the cage construction shown at 68 or with the cage constructions shown in Figures 9 and 11. The disk 91 is formed as shown in Figure 14 Y with oppositely extending slots 98 within which the transverse partition members are adapted to engage. The disk 91 is forgmed with a narrow connecting part 99 between the two slots or openings 98 which engages on the lowerA end ofk the vertical slot .1l which is formed in the transverse partition members 10. The bottle *locking or holding disks 91 are vdesigned particularly for the use where bottles are lformedrwith reduced portions in the body thereof adjacent the lower ends, and where theselockingor holding disks are used, the bottles may be inserted in the respective compartments between dividers and are bent sufficiently to permit the bottom of the bottle to pass the disks and will then assume their normal positions which will be within the These disks are particularly desirable where the crate or carrier is carried by only one end which has a tendency to dispose the :bottles in the crate in substantially horizontal position where they might readily fall out.v l

Referring now to Figure 15, there is disclosed a modification of the handle structure. An elongated cord |90 which is of a length sufficient to be looped as shown by the wire handle V82`is provided at the opposite ends thereof with spring clasps IUI which are adapted to engage the cross bars 66 and the loopedcord then extended out.

wardly from beneath the frame, upwardly along theends of the frame, and then extended ine wardly.

With respect to the extruded channeled corners Y A herein disclosed, it will be understood that these corners may if desired be formed from rubber or each of said members including inner and outer plates, confronting flanges carried by the upper and lower edges of said plates for holding said plates in spaced relation, channelled corner members fixed to the opposite ends of said side members, each corner member being formed of a pair of right-angularly disposed channels, a rod extending through both end members, each side member and said corner members for securing said crate together, bottom forming means in said frame, and a compartment forming cage in said frame.

2. A bottle crate comprising a rectangular frame formed of separate opposite side and end members, each member including spaced inner and outer'plates, outwardly extending upper and lower flanges carried by said inner plates, rightangularly disposed flanges carried by said upper and'lower flanges, said outer plate including inwardlyprojecting upper and lower flanges and right-angular flanges carried by the latter disposed in abutting relation with respect to said rst named right-angular flanges, a corner member for the adjacent ends of said side and end members, each corner member being formed of a pair of right-angularly disposed channels, means xing said end members in said channels, and rods extending between said end members, through said side members and said corner members, securing said crate together.

3. In a bottle-crate, adivider cage formed of parallel longitudinal strips and parallel transverse strips, certain ones ofV said strips having slots at the crossing points within Awhich the intersecting ones of said strips engage, and a yieldable bottle retaining disk at the crossing points of said strips vand disposed in said slots below the upper edges of said strips whereby to yieldably hold bottles within the compartments formed by said strips.

SANFORD J. BLACKWELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 578,728 Doten Mar. 16, 1897 942,966 Kruse Dec. 14, 1909 1,027,040' Flora May 21, 1912 1,048,566 Miller Dec. 31, 1912 1,147,192 Schmedtje July 20, 1915 1,148,017 Hamilton et al. July 27, 1915 1,328,748 Maurer Jan. 20, 1920 1,728,521 Anderson Sept. 17, 1929 1,801,975 Pennock Apr. 21, 1931 2,003,134 Bowman May 28, 1935 2,017,264 Taylor ,Oct. 15, 1935 2,055,339 Dalton Sept. 22, 1936 2,119,821 Manley June 7, 1938 2,183,090 Boone Dec. 12, 1939 2,247,620 Robinson July 1, 1941 2,816,454 Reid et al. Apr. 13, 1943 2,323,491 .Schneeberger July 6, 1943 2,339,474 Hardin Jan. 18, 1944 2,416,147 Blackwell Feb. 18,1947

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 11,119 Great Britain 1898 20,247 Great Britain. 1903 8,624 Norway Aug. 20, 1900 

